Charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device and method of making

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device and a method of making the device. The charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a source region, a drain region, and, consecutively formed over the semiconductor substrate, a channel insulation layer, a charge trapping layer, a blocking insulation layer, and a gate electrode. The drain region includes a P-N junction, and the source region includes a metal-semiconductor junction formed between the semiconductor substrate and a metal including titanium, cobalt, nickel, platinum or one of their various combinations. The charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to the present disclosure has low programming voltage, fast programming speed, low energy consumption, and relatively high device reliability.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to non-volatile memory devices, andmore particularly to a charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memorydevice and method of making the same.

BACKGROUND

Non-volatile memory, due to its low energy consumption, small volume,high density, re-programmability and other characteristics, has wideapplications in technology fields such as mobile communications, dataterminals, multi-media, consumer electronics, defense electronicequipment, and so on.

Non-volatile memory mainly includes floating-gate non-volatilesemiconductor memory and charge trapping non-volatile semiconductormemory. A floating-gate non-volatile semiconductor memory device storescharge in a floating gate formed using polysilicon. Thus, any defectsrelated to the polysilicon floating gate can reduce charge retentiontime. On the other hand, a charge trapping non-volatile semiconductormemory device uses a nitride layer in place of the polysilicon. Chargeis stored in the nitride layer, which is less sensitive to defects.Furthermore, compared to floating-gate non-volatile semiconductormemory, charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory is moresuitable for miniaturization. Moreover, charge trapping non-volatilesemiconductor memory has other advantages such as separated storagemedium, thinner tunnel oxide layer, better data retention, and completecompatibility with microelectronics fabrication processes. Therefore,charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory is now expected togradually replace floating-gate non-volatile semiconductor memory forsub-30 nm technologies.

Generally speaking, programming and erasure of a charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device are done by hot-channelelectron injection and hot-channel hole injection. The programming of acharge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device can be done bytraditional hot-channel electron injection near a drain terminal. Theerasure of a charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory devicecan be done by hot-channel hole injection near the drain terminal.Currently, both source and drain terminals of charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory devices are structured as P-Njunctions.

As the device sizes shrink further, however, the channel length of theabove mentioned charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memorydevices becomes shorter. When both source and drain of a charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device are structured as P-Njunctions, it is difficult to reduce the programming voltage, improvehot-channel electron injection efficiency, increase programming speed,and reduce energy consumption while still generating sufficienthot-channel electron or hole injections near the drain.

SUMMARY

Because of the above problems in conventional charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory, there is a need to provide lowprogramming voltage, high programming speed, low-energy consumption andhigh reliability charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memorydevices.

There is also a need to provide a method of making the low programmingvoltage, high programming speed, low-energy consumption and highreliability charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory devices.

A charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises asemiconductor substrate, a source region, a drain region, and,sequentially formed over the semiconductor substrate, a channelinsulation layer, a charge trapping layer, a blocking insulation layer,and a gate electrode.

Preferably, the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory devicefurther includes a first metal layer formed over the gate electrode.

Preferably, the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory devicefurther includes a hard mask layer formed over the first metal layer.

Preferably, the semiconductor substrate includes a drain region and asource region. The channel insulation layer, the charge trapping layer,the blocking insulation layer, the gate electrode, the first metallayer, the hard mask layer being sequentially formed over a region inthe semiconductor substrate other than the source region and the drainregion.

Preferably, the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory devicefurther includes sidewalls formed in respective openings, which areformed in spaces over the semiconductor substrate corresponding to thesource region and the drain region. The sidewalls extend from sides ofthe channel insulation layer to corresponding sides of the hard masklayer.

Preferably, the first metal layer includes tungsten or tungstensilicide.

A method of making the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memorydevice includes: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming insuccession over the semiconductor substrate a channel insulation layer,a charge trapping layer, a blocking insulation layer, a gate electrode,a first metal layer, and a hard mask layer; etching successively thehard mask layer, the first metal layer, the gate electrode, the blockinginsulation layer, the charge-trapping layer, and the channel insulationlayer, thereby forming a first opening corresponding to the drain regionand a second opening corresponding to the source region, each of thefirst and second openings exposing the semiconductor substrate; forminga first dielectric layer and etching the first dielectric layer whileretaining part of the first dielectric layer in the second opening;implanting ions into the semiconductor substrate to form a P-N junctionat the drain region; removing the first dielectric layer and formingsidewalls in the first and second openings, which extend from sides ofthe channel insulation layer to sides of the hard mask layer; forming asecond metal layer to form a metal-semiconductor junction correspondingto the source region, the second metal layer including any one of atitanium metal layer, a cobalt metal layer, a nickel metal layer, and aplatinum metal layer, or a combination thereof.

Preferably, a width of the first opening is larger than a width of thesecond opening. Preferably, a thickness of the first dielectric layer islarger than half the width of the second opening but smaller than halfthe width of the first opening.

Preferably, the first dielectric layer is silicon dioxide, siliconnitride or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the semiconductor substrate is a P-type substrate, and theions implanted are N-type ions.

Preferably, forming the sidewalls includes depositing a seconddielectric layer, etching part of the second dielectric layer whileretaining portions of the second dielectric layer covering inside wallsof the first and second openings to form the sidewalls.

Preferably, an annealing process is used to cause the second metal layerto react with the semiconductor substrate in the second opening so as toform metal silicide, which contacts the source region corresponding tothe second opening to form the metal-semiconductor junction.

Preferably, the method further comprises removing part of the firstmetal layer that has not reacted with the semiconductor substrate.

The drain region and source region of the charge trapping non-volatilesemiconductor memory device made using the method of the presentinvention have a P-N junction and a Schottky junction, respectively. TheSchottky structure is formed between the semiconductor substrate and ametal including titanium, cobalt, nickel, platinum or a combinationthereof. The barrier of the Schottky junction should be relatively lowso that programming by hot electron injection near the source region canbe effectively performed. Therefore, when using the charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device, only low gate voltage and lowdrain voltage are needed to produce hot electrons near the sourceregion, resulting in high hot-electron injection efficiency, lowprogramming voltage, fast programming speed, and low energy consumption.Furthermore, the asymmetrical source/drain structure of the chargetrapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device helps to reduce diodeleakage toward the drain, increasing device reliability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is flowchart illustrating a method of making the charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device according to a preferredembodiment.

FIGS. 3 to 13 are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating steps of themethod of making the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memorydevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a cross-sectional diagram illustratinga charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device. The chargetrapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device 10 comprises asemiconductor substrate 11, a channel insulation layer 12, a chargetrapping layer 13, a blocking insulation layer, 14, a gate electrode 15,a first metal layer 16, a hard mask layer 17 and sidewalls 18. A drainregion 110 and a source region 111 are formed near a surface of thesemiconductor substrate 11. The channel insulation layer 12, the chargetrapping layer 13, the blocking insulation layer, 14, the gate electrode15, the first metal layer 16, and the hard mask layer 17 areconsecutively formed on the semiconductor substrate over areas of thesurface of the semiconductor substrate 11 other than the drain region110 and the source region 111.

Formed in spaces above the semiconductor substrate 111 corresponding tothe drain region 110 and the source region 111 are first opening 112 andsecond opening 114, respectively. The sidewalls 18 are formed in thefirst and second openings 112, 113, on sides of the layers from thechannel insulation layer 12 to the hard mask layer 17. The drain region11 has a contact hole (not shown) filled with a metal connected to abitline. The gate electrode 15 and the first metal layer 16 togetherform a wordline (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 2-13, FIG. 2 is flowchart illustrating a method ofmaking the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device 10according to a preferred embodiment. FIGS. 3-13 are cross-sectionaldiagrams illustrating steps of the method of making the charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device 10. The method of making thecharge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device 10 comprisesthe following steps.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step S1, a semiconductor substrate 11 isprovided, and a channel insulation layer 12, a charge trapping layer 13,a blocking insulation layer, 14, and a gate electrode 15 areconsecutively formed over the semiconductor substrate 11. Thismulti-layered structure from the semiconductor substrate 11 to the gateelectrode 15 is structured as a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon(SONOS) structure (not shown). The semiconductor substrate 11 can be aP-type semiconductor substrate. The channel insulation layer 12 can beformed using silicon dioxide (SiO2). The charge-trapping layer 13 can beformed using silicon nitride (Si3Ni4). The gate electrode 15 can be alayer of polysilicon.

The channel insulation layer 12 can be formed by wet oxidation orfree-radical oxidation. The charge trapping layer 13 and the blockingisolation layer 14 can be formed by atomic layer deposition (ALD),plasma enhanced ALD or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) followed by rapidthermal annealing (RTA).

Referring to FIG. 4, in step S2, a first metal layer 16 and a hard masklayer 17 are formed consecutively over the gate electrode 15. The firstmetal layer can include tungsten or tungsten silicide. The first hardmask layer 17 can be a silicon dioxide layer or silicon oxide layer.

In step S3, photolithography is performed on the hard mask layer 17,followed by etching of the hard mask layer 17, the first metal layer 16and the SONOS structure until corresponding portions of thesemiconductor substrate are exposed, thereby forming the first opening112 and the second opening 113 illustrated in FIG. 5. A width L1 of thefirst opening 112 is wider than a width L2 of the second opening 113.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step S4, the first dielectric layer 19 isdeposited over the hard mask layer 17 and the exposed portions of thesemiconductor substrate. The first dielectric layer can be a silicondioxide layer, silicon nitride layer or a combination thereof. Athickness of the first dielectric layer 19 is larger than L2/2 butsmaller than L1/2. Thus, the first opening 112 is not completely filledwhile the second opening 113 is filled.

Referring to FIG. 7, in step S5, the first dielectric layer is etchedusing an anisotropic dry etching process, which removes part of thefirst dielectric layer covering the hard mask and part of the firstdielectric layer covering the substrate in the first opening 112 whilekeeping part of the first dielectric layer covering sidewalls in thefirst opening 112.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step S6, N-type dopant ions are implanted intothe semiconductor substrate having the hard mask layer 17 and the firstdielectric layer 19 formed thereon, and annealing is performed to form aP-N junction at the drain region 110 corresponding to the first opening112.

Referring to FIG. 9, in step S7, an anisotropic etching process is usedto etch away the first dielectric layer 19, thinning the hard mask layer17 during the process.

Referring to FIG. 10, in step S8, a second dielectric layer 21 isdeposited over the semiconductor substrate 11 and the hard mask layer17. The second dielectric layer 21 can be silicon dioxide, siliconnitride or a combination thereof. A thickness of the second dielectriclayer is smaller than L2/2.

In step S9, an anisotropic etching process is used to etch away part ofthe second dielectric layer 21 deposited on the hard mask layer 17 andpart of the second dielectric layer 21 deposited on the semiconductorsubstrate 11, while keeping part of the second dielectric layer 21deposited on inside walls of the first and second openings 112, 113,thereby forming the sidewalls illustrated in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIG. 12, in step S10, a second metal layer 22 is depositedover the semiconductor substrate 11, and an annealing process is used tocause the second metal layer 22 to react with the semiconductorsubstrate in the two openings 112, 113 to form metal silicide. Thesecond metal layer 22 can be a titanium metal layer, a cobalt metallayer, a nickel metal layer, and a platinum metal layer, or one of theirvarious combinations. The metal silicide contacts the semiconductorsubstrate 11 at the source region 111 corresponding to the secondopening 113, thereby forming the metal-semiconductor junction (Schottkyjunction), as illustrated in FIG. 13, while the semiconductor junctionat the drain region 110 is a P-N junction.

Referring to FIG. 13, in step S11, a wet etching process is used toremove the second metal layer 22 that has not reacted with thesemiconductor substrate, and a third dielectric layer (not shown) isdeposited to form a contact hole (not shown) at the second opening. Thecontact hole is to be filled with a metal, which will be connected to abitline later on. Lastly, the gate electrode 15 and the first metallayer 16 together form a word line, and the charge trapping non-volatilesemiconductor memory device is thus formed. Furthermore, because theresistivity of the first metal layer 16 is lower than that of the gateelectrode 15, the gate electrode mainly forms the word line.

The drain region 110 and the source region 111 of the charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device 10 made using the methodaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure have a P-N junctionand a Schottky junction, respectively. The Schottky structure is formedbetween the semiconductor substrate and a metal including titanium,cobalt, nickel, platinum or a combination thereof. The barrier of theSchottky junction should be relatively low so that programming by hotelectron injection near the source region can be effectively performed.Therefore, when using the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductormemory device, only low gate voltage and low drain voltage are needed toproduce hot electrons near the source region, resulting in highhot-electron injection efficiency, low programming voltage, fastprogramming speed, and low energy consumption.

Furthermore, the asymmetrical source/drain structure of the chargetrapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device helps to reduce diodeleakage toward the drain, increasing device reliability.

While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferredembodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that variousadditions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedin the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to thoseskilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with otherelements, materials, and components, without departing from the spiritor essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosedembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoingdescription.

1. A charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device,comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a source region; a drain region;and a channel insulation layer, a charge trapping layer, a blockinginsulation layer, and a gate electrode consecutively formed over thesemiconductor substrate; wherein the drain region includes a P-Njunction; characterized in that: the source region includes ametal-semiconductor junction formed between the semiconductor substrateand a metal including titanium, cobalt, nickel, platinum or acombination thereof.
 2. The charge trapping non-volatile semiconductormemory device of claim 1, further comprising a first metal layer formedover the gate electrode.
 3. The charge trapping non-volatilesemiconductor memory device of claim 2, further comprising a hard masklayer formed over the first metal layer.
 4. The charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device of claim 3, wherein thesemiconductor substrate includes the drain region and the source region,and wherein the channel insulation layer, the charge trapping layer, theblocking insulation layer, the gate electrode, the first metal layer,and the hard mask layer are over a region of the semiconductor substrateother than the source region and the drain region.
 5. The chargetrapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device of claim 4, furthercomprising sidewalls, wherein a first opening and a second opening areformed over the drain region and the source region, respectively,wherein the sidewalls are formed in the first and second openings, eachof the sidewalls extending from a side of the channel insulation layerto a corresponding side of the hard mask layer.
 6. The charge trappingnon-volatile semiconductor memory device of claim 2, wherein the firstmetal layer is a tungsten metal layer or a tungsten silicide metallayer.
 7. A method of making a charge trapping non-volatilesemiconductor memory device, comprising: providing a semiconductorsubstrate; forming consecutively on the semiconductor substrate achannel insulation layer, a charge trapping layer, a blocking insulationlayer, a gate electrode, a first metal layer, and a hard mask layer;etching consecutively the hard mask layer, the first metal layer, thegate electrode, the blocking insulation layer, the charge trappinglayer, and the channel insulation layer, thereby forming a first openingcorresponding to a drain region and a second opening corresponding to asource region, each of the first opening and the second opening exposingthe semiconductor substrate; forming a first dielectric layer andetching the first dielectric layer while retaining part of the firstdielectric layer in the second opening; implanting ions in thesemiconductor substrate to form a P-N junction near the drain region;removing the first dielectric layer; forming sidewalls, each of thesidewalls extending from a side of the channel insulation layer to acorresponding side of the hard mask layer; and forming a second metallayer, the second metal layer including titanium, cobalt, nickel,platinum or a combination thereof, the second metal layer reacting withthe semiconductor substrate to form a metal-semiconductor junctioncorresponding to the source region.
 8. The method of making the chargetrapping non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 7,wherein a width of the first opening is larger than a width of thesecond opening.
 9. The method of making the charge trapping non-volatilesemiconductor memory device according to claim 8, wherein a thickness ofthe first dielectric layer is greater than half the width of the secondopening but smaller than half the width of the first opening.
 10. Themethod of making the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memorydevice according to claim 7, wherein the first dielectric layer is asilicon dioxide layer, a silicon nitride layer or a combination thereof.11. The method of making the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductormemory device according to claim 7, wherein the semiconductor substrateis a P-type substrate and the ions are N-type ions.
 12. The method ofmaking the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein forming the sidewalls includes depositinga second dielectric layer, etching the second dielectric layer whileretaining portions of the second dielectric layer covering sides of thefirst and second openings to form the side walls.
 13. The method ofmaking the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein an annealing process is used to cause thesecond metal layer to react with the semiconductor substrate in thesecond opening to form metal silicide, the metal silicide forming themetal-semiconductor junction with the semiconductor substrate in thesecond opening corresponding to the source region.
 14. The method ofmaking the charge trapping non-volatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to claim 13, further comprising removing part of the secondmetal layer that has not reacted with the semiconductor substrate.